49ers undefeated after four

By Lyndsey Shinoda
Daily Forty-Niner

The Long Beach State women's volleyball team was hard at work this past Labor Day weekend, earning their first home win and three road victories.

In the season opener Thursday before 3,616 at The Pyramid, the 49ers swept the Gaels of Saint Mary's in three games, 15-5, 15-9, 15-4.

The attendance for the match was also the largest home opener and sixth highest overall in team history.

The 49ers outsized and overpowered the Gaels throughout the match showing why they are the No. 4 ranked team in the country.

"As the game went on, we got the jitters out and started to play as a team," said middle blocker Cheryl Weaver, who had 16 kills, seven digs and three blocks on the night.

Women's Volleyball

The 49ers were carried by sophomore Lindsay Phillips, who redshirted last season after transferring from Pepperdine. The outside hitter powered 20 kills past the Gaels and had nine digs as well.

"We've got it all: power, ball control, size," said Head Coach Brian Gimmillaro. "Lindsay is a gamer -- she wants to win."

The 49ers packed their bags and headed east to Washington, D.C. Saturday, which was a homecoming for Weaver, who hails from the capitol.

That evening, Weaver and the 49ers took control of a match against Navy in Anapolis, Maryland. The Beach dominated, winning in three games,15-4, 15-0,
15-9. Outside hitter Sarah Connor tallied seven digs in the match.

After a break Sunday, the 49ers were back at work Labor Day, playing a double header, against American and then Georgetown. LBSU had a tough time handling American, taking four games to dispose of them, 15-8, 15-17, 15-4, and 15-2.

Weaver finished the game with 15 kills and a career-best 10 blocks. The win was bittersweet though, as Phillips suffered an injury to her left knee in the second game. Middle blocker Tayyiba Haneef was also out with a pulled abdomen muscle.

"It was good that the team rallied, but the preliminary report on Lindsay is that it's an ACL [Anterior Cruciate Ligament]," Gimmillaro said. "Without Tayyiba, Ashanti Taylor (who was ill) and Lindsay, it was very difficult."

Despite playing without some key players, LBSU held their own against Georgetown, in a five-game battle. The 49ers won 10-15, 15-3, 15-12, 13-15, 17-15.

Weaver again paved the way with 26 kills and 6 blocks. Connor also had 21 digs in the contest.

"I'm really pleased with Cheryl stepping it up, taking control and giving us a lift," Gimmillaro said. "The wins were tremendous. With so many people out of the lineup, so many people stepped up."

The injured and recuperating 49ers will have a two-day break before they are back at home in The Pyramid vs. Temple, Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Then they take to the road, with two games in Utah.

"We have a very difficult trip coming up," Gimmillaro said. "The people who haven't been called upon will be called upon this weekend."